INCREDIBLE: DIRTY-FIGHT BEGINS AHEAD OF 2015 ELECTIONS!
Activists Drag Buhari to Court…Says ‘If Convicted, He Faces 14 Year Jail Term’
*Confesses: “Buhari contravenes Section 157 of Penal Code punishable under Section 158”
*Reveals: “We’re guided by Truth, Utmost regard to Laws of Federal Republic of Nigeria at all times that we swore as lawyers-even under pain of Death”
*Echoes: “We cannot sit, allow a man who told brazen lies on oath get clearance to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ride by displaying a fake facade of anti – corruption credentials”
*Regrets: “If we keep quiet in the face of such brazen assault on our laws by those who crave for power, then we have no moral high ground to complain tomorrow if our nation continues to decay”
* “PDP, Jonathan’s administration playing Dangerous Games for Political Gains”-APC National Scribe, Lai Mohammed
BY CHRISTOPHER CHUKWUDI/REPORTER, ABUJA
POLITICAL situation in Nigeria seems to be more cloudy and angers seem brewing in the camps of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressive Congress(APC) whose Presidential flag-bearers are Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) over the 2015 elections holding on February 14 nationwide.
PDP have reportedly said on several instances that “Buhari is not qualified to stand for election being seeing to have defaulted in perjury and falsification of his School Leaving Certificate with his caveat submission of affidavit to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to contest the position of Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In his own reaction, APC National Scribe, Lai Mohammed reportedly said “PDP, Jonathan’s administration playing Dangerous Games for Political Gains”
Activists Drag Buhari to Court
Naija Standard gathered the confusion generated by this heated debate was taken to a higher ground when some activists, who are lawyers converged to drag Buhari before Magistrate Court of Federal Republic of Nigeria claiming Buhari deserves to go to jail if convicted for perjury and forgery. Under the chamber of Uzochukwu Ezekiel along these complainants who are lawyers -Shield Jones Ufot, Jimmy David, Ogueri Enwerem, their story reads below:
“On the instruction of our clients, we filed today at the Magistrate Court of the Federal Capital Territory a direct criminal complaint to prosecute General Mohammadu Buhari for the offence of giving false evidence to a public officer contrary to Section 157 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 158 of the same code. If Mr. Buhari is convicted under this section he faces a jail term of fourteen (14) years.
“We had earlier written a petition to the Inspector – General of Police to carry out a full scale investigation on the allegations of perjury against General Buhari but yet to get any response from Police authorities, hence, our resolve as private citizens to initiate criminal proceedings against General Buhari pursuant to Sections 143 (d) and 152 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“In bringing the present criminal complaint against General Buhari, we are guided by truth and utmost regard to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which we swore as lawyers to uphold in all circumstances and against all manner of persons even under pain of death. A true activist, like the law, should at all times be blind to the personality involved, his cause is to fight for truth and justice at all times.
“We cannot sit and allow a man who told brazen lies on oath just to get clearance to run for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ride on the back of all Nigerians simply by displaying a fake facade of anti – corruption credentials. The basic question is – what moral justification will such a man have to tackle the menace of corruption in our society if he eventually wins, since his entire aspiration was built on a heap of corruption. He must clear himself first before he will have the moral standing to talk of tackling corruption.
“We are seriously pained that some well educated Nigerians and other well placed individuals do not see or pretend not to see the danger posed by allowing a man who cannot produce a single certificate run the affairs of our country. How will the world view our dear country with a President who is sitting on a heap of lies?
“Our call is that if General Buhari has any honor or dignity left, he should produce his certificate or immediately submit his notice of withdrawal as candidate of the All Progressive Congress pursuant to Section 35 of the Electoral Act, then come and face his trial.
“If we are serious about having any kind of change in this Country, we must all rise above party lines and political leanings and support the prosecution of General Buhari for no citizen is above the law and none can have immunity against prosecution because of any perceived track record. Lying under oath to deceive a public officer is corruption at its best.
“Let me remind us all that if we keep quiet in the face of such brazen assault on our laws by those who crave for power, then we have no moral high ground to complain tomorrow if our nation continues to decay.
As for us, we are determined to pursue this matter until justice is done and will NEVER, NEVER rest or shut our mouths until justice is done, even if we have to pay the ultimate price.”
IN THE MAGISTRATES COURT OF F.C.T
IN THE ABUJA MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT
HOLDEN AT ABUJA
CASE NO……………
BETWEEN:
-
SHIELD JONES UFOT
-
JIMMY DAVID
-
OGUERI ENWEREM …………………………. COMPLAINANTS
-
TOCHUKWU OKORIE
AND
MOHAMMADU BUHARI …………………….…. ACCUSED
DIRECT CRIMINAL COMPLAINT BROUGHT PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 143 (d) AND 152 OF THE CRIMINAL PROCEDURE CODE.
Kindly cause a Direct Criminal Complaint to be issued for the offence of:
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Giving false evidence to a public officer contrary to Section 157 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 158 of the Penal Code Law.
Against MOHAMMADU BUHARI at the instance of SHIELD JONES UFOT, JIMMY DAVID, OGUERI ENWEREM AND TOCHUKWU OKORIE and upon the following particulars:
PARTICULARS OF OFFENCE
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The Complainants are Nigerian citizens, activists and social crusaders committed to ensuring obedience to the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with a duty to report crime and ensure prosecution of offenders.
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The Complainants are equally tax payers and voters in Nigeria qualified to vote and be voted for in Nigeria.
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That the Accused is a former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress in the forthcoming general elections in Nigeria.
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That pursuant to Section 30 of the Electoral Act, 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a Notice setting a date for the 2015 general elections and called for submission of names of candidates for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the various political parties.
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That the All Progressive Congress and General Mohammadu Buhari (Rtd) on the 18th day of December, 2014, filled and submitted INEC form C.F 001 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (a public office) wherein the said General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) gave his qualification to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as West African School Certificate (WASC), which he claimed to have obtained in 1961. The said form CF 001 and INEC publication of names of Presidential candidates and qualifications as published in Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday, January 15, 2015 are attached as exhibit 1.
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That General Mohammadu Buhari with intent to mislead a public officer as to compliance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010, deposed to various affidavits in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja wherein he stated that he attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School, Katsina State and obtained a West African School Certificate and the certificates he claimed to have obtained are with the Nigerian Army. The two affidavits deposed to by General Mohammadu Buhari on the 17th of December, 2014 and 24th of November, 2014 are hereby as exhibits 2 and 3.
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That the Nigerian Army in whose custody General Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) claim the certificates are, issued a statement published in the Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday January 21, 2015 at pages 1 and 6 and Daily Trust Newspaper of Thursday, January 22, 2015, and denied being in possession of the school certificates. The publications are attached as exhibits 4 and 5.
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That General Mohammadu Buhari never sat for the West African Examination Council examination in 1961 as he claimed.
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That in the entire records of the school and West African Examination Council, there appeared no name of the said Mohammadu Buhari.
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That the only name close to that of Mr. Buhari in the school list of 1961 as published by the Principal of Government College (Pilot), Katsina, Katsina State is Mohamed Buhari. The said publication is attached.
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That the actions of the Accused constitute offences of giving false evidence to a public officer contrary to Section 157 of the Penal Code Law and punishable under Section 158 of the Penal Code Law.
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That the Complainants are now compelled to bring a Direct Criminal Complainant against the accused person.
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That the society is crying for justice and only an intervention by the Court can answer the cry.
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That it will be in the best interest of justice to bring the accused person to answer to this Complaint.
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That this Court has the power to direct that the accused person be brought to answer to the Complaint.
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That this Complaint is made in good faith.
Dated this 27th day of January, 2015.
EZEKIEL UGOCHUKWU, ESQ
E.H UGOCHUKWU CHAMBERS,
SUIT D 404, 3RD FLOOR, GLOBAL PLAZA,
JABI UPSTAIRS JUNCTION,
BESIDE CHRIST APOSTOLIC CHURCH,
OBAFEMI AWOLOWO WAY,
JABI DISTRICT, ABUJA.
08067104387;08157603786;08038754660 hanks4us@yahoo.com;e.hugochukwuchambers@gmail.com
FOR SERVICE ON:
THE ACCUSED PERSON
No: 4 A & B, Sultan Lane,
Off Sultan Road,
Kaduna,
Kaduna State.
January 26, 2015.
The Inspector – General of Police,
Nigeria Police Force Headquarters,
Louise Edet House,
Asokoro,
Abuja.
Dear Sir,
CALL FOR IMMEDIATE INVESTIGATION OF ALLEGATIONS OF PERJURY AND GIVING FALSE EVIDENCE TO A PUBLIC OFFICER BY GENERAL MOHAMMADU BUHARI (RTD) AND THE ALL PROGRESSIVE CONGRESS (APC) IN INEC FORM C.F 001 AND IN AFFIDAVIT MADE ON 17TH AND 24TH DAY OF NOVEMEBER, 2014.
We are Solicitors to SHIELD JONES UFOT, JIMMY DAVID AND NZE OGUERI ENWEREM (Hereinafter referred to as “Our Clients”) and on their instruction we write.
Our brief revealed serious allegations of lying under oath and giving false evidence to a public officer by General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd), Presidential candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and All Progressive Congress, the facts of which are as follows:
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That pursuant to Section 30 of the Electoral Act, 2010, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued a Notice setting a date for the 2015 general elections and called for submission of names of candidates for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by the various political parties.
-
The All Progressive Congress and General Mohammadu Buhari (Rtd) on the 18th day of December, 2014, filled and submitted INEC form C.F 001 to the Independent National Electoral Commission (a public office) wherein the said General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) gave his qualification to contest for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as West African School Certificate (WASC), which he claimed to have obtained in 1961. The said form CF 001 and INEC publication of names of Presidential candidates and qualifications as published in Vanguard Newspaper of Thursday, January 15, 2015 are attached to aid your investigation.
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General Mohammadu Buhari in an obvious intention to mislead a public officer as to compliance with the provisions of Section 31 of the Electoral Act, 2010, deposed to various affidavits in the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja wherein he stated that he attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School, Katsina State and obtained a West African School Certificate and the certificates he claimed to have obtained are with the Nigerian Army. The two affidavits deposed to by General Mohammadu Buhari on the 17th of December, 2014 and 24th of November, 2014 are hereby attached for your confirmation.
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The Nigerian Army in whose custody General Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress (APC) claim the certificates are, issued a statement published in the Thisday Newspaper of Wednesday January 21, 2015 at pages 1 and 6 and Daily Trust Newspaper of Thursday, January 22, 2015, and denied being in possession of the school certificates.
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Our clients’ discreet private investigation revealed that General Mohammadu Buhari never sat for the West African Examination Council examination in 1961 as he claimed. In the entire records of the school and West African Examination Council, there appeared no name of the said Mohammadu Buhari. The only name close to that of Mr. Buhari in the school list of 1961 as published by the Principal of Government College (Pilot), Katsina, Katsina State is Mohamed Buhari. The said publication is attached.
Based on the above stated facts, we call upon you to use your good offices to investigate or cause to be investigated the clear falsification of facts and lying under oath to a public officer by General Mohammadu Buhari and the All Progressive Congress Party (APC) and prosecute them pursuant to Sections 140, 157 and 158 of the Penal Code and Section 31 (8) of the Electoral Act, Cap E6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2010 (As amended) and cause the result of your investigation to be made available to the public.
Accept our sincere regards.
Yours sincerely,
For: E. H UGOCHUKWU CHAMBERS,
UGOCHUKWU EZEKIEL, ESQ
PP/HEAD OF CHAMBERS
